Everybody needs a cheery little animal who can fit in their hand. I can’t speak to hedgehogs as pets, but they seem cute and cheery enough if that’s your thing.

Honestly, everyone needs at least one person in their life who will always be an encourager. Everyone needs that someone who believes in them even when they don’t (or can’t).

I know in my own life the difference one small word from one person can make. Sometimes, it has the power to turn a good day into a bad one. But I can testify that one lone encouraging word has the power to transform a bad day into a good one.

I also believe that everyone needs someone who will always tell them the truth. As my old pastor used to say, the first person you lie to is yourself. If you only surround yourself with people who agree with you and tell you what you want to hear, you will go on repeating the same patterns and making the same bad choices. Like those tiny mirrors that fit on your side-view mirrors, you need someone to point out your blind spots.

Powerful people in positions of leadership are most vulnerable to temptation and failing when they don’t have accountability in the form of someone who is willing to ask the tough questions and tell them the honest truth.

Obviously, the idea is always to speak the truth in love for the betterment of the person, not as a weapon to tear that person down. The best way to speak truth is in the context of a trusting relationship where the other has invited you to speak into their life and given you permission to ask those tough questions and say the uncomfortable truths.

But I think even when speaking a word of rebuke, it’s best to sandwich it between words of encouragement and praise. Even then, we still need people who still believe in us when we veer off course.

Basically, be like that little hedgehog.